Well, the Bill Simmons experiment has gone terribly awry for ESPN broadcasting and he officially jumped the shark last night during the NBA Draft coverage. ESPN has embraced homerism on their network for the most part (think Mike Greenberg as a Jets fan), but Simmons is incapable of having any objectivity about his teams.

Last night it came to a head as he has insisted on saying Doc Rivers bailed on the Celtics by jumping ship after signing a five-year extension a couple of years ago…even though it’s abundantly clear that the Celtics are unloading their assets to tank next season for a run at Andrew Wiggins rebuilding.

ESPN asked Doc about Simmons’ comments and he delivered a swift haymaker.

The awkwardness after they cut back to Simmons and co. is palpable as Jalen Rose is literally leaning back as if to say “I don’t want any part of this.” Simmons fires back, but he’s at a loss here.

The fact of the matter is Bill Simmons used to- you know what, I’ll just let Rivers’ son Jeremiah take over. I can’t top it.

Spot on. Then, of course, there’s this article from a few years before Doc won an NBA championship that should tell you all you need to know.

My take? Bill Simmons was wrong about Doc Rivers all those years back. As wrong as anyone could be about anything. And he’s trying to use this opportunity to say “I told you so,” but it’s all blowing up in his face.

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ESPN keep trying to make simmons happen on TV…hasn’t worked yet. too much to soon . He’s got a couple classic column series , draft diary etc. he’s put together a fantastic lineup on grantland , might just take those wins and be happy.

Since I started seeing Bill Simmons regularly, I’ve grown to dislike him. Before when I would randomly see him on PTI for is for Tony Kornheiser, I didn’t mind him. Now, in my head he’s in the same category as Cris Collinsworth & Bill Plaschke

He’s a mediocre TV personality, nothing great about him on TV at all. But he’s still very knowledgeable and insightful; he just looks awkward and isn’t commanding on TV. But that doesn’t make him an idiot, which Bill Plaschke very much is.

Terribly awry? That feels strong. Simmons’ appeal (if he has any) is not professionalism. It’s his fan’s perspective. The reason his writing is successful is he comes off as the guy on your couch, or beside you at the bar, that you watch sports with and crack jokes. Even if you don’t agree with him (I rarely do). It’s fun to joke and argue with that guy.
There’s already too many slick, respectful and unimpassioned hosts on ESPN, I don’t mind the opinionated lack of professionalism. It’s not like he has the credibility of Magic, or even sportswriters like Wilbon, so I’m down with opinions that might not be right. Fans are wrong all the time.

Using the “fan” argument takes away any accountability Simmons needs. He can’t have it both ways, he’s either a fan or a sportswriter. It would be one thing if he stuck to his original lane with his columns and podcasts, but now that ESPN wants to prop him up on TV as if he is a journalist.

Until he truly picks a side, how is anyone supposed to take him seriously in that regard?

Funniest moment of the Finals is still when Lebron was being interviewed and he was like “I wasn’t supposed to make it here. You know Magic, you know Jalen…” *awkwardly looks at Bill Simmons for a few seconds*…

But Doc Rivers kid needs to chill, it’s not that serious. Simmons isn’t Chris Broussard or one of the other objective journalists. He provides a fan’s perspective, which gets amplified when you’re talking about HIS favorite team. So maybe Jeremiah Rivers should just start arguing with every other Celtics fan who agrees with Simmons on Twitter, and there are A LOT of them.

Man, J Rivers is speaking what every player wants to say to members of their fan base that have no clue. And this was his opportunity to do so without getting called a fan basher, because this guy has a gig with ESPN.

First of all, Bill Simmons is one of the greatest sports writers EVER. Fact. He’s only a mediocre TV personality so I don’t know why ESPN keeps on insisting on putting him on there, but whatever. Obviously that column on Doc Rivers was wrong, but no one is right 100% of the time. Bill Simmons is respectable because he gives you an authentic fan’s view, and he’s not robotic. Also if he’s not right, he’s at least insightly and isn’t spewing garbage.

Now, with all that aside, as a Magic fan, I have great respect for and love Doc Rivers. But Simmons was right. Uhhh he had 3 years left on his contract and didn’t want to stick around for a rebuilding project. I don’t blame him and there’s nothing wrong with that, but that is the definition of quitting or bailing. Doc came out and said he didn’t want to do a rebuilding project, then said this, then said that. Just stick to your first assertion. No accomplished NBA coach wants to go through a damn rebuilding phase.

He didn’t quit on the team. The front off quit on him. And when that happens, its time for you to move on. Why be somewhere when they aren’t about winning? Trying to put the best team on the floor possible. That is not what they were attempting to do at all.

Gerald I agree. The Celtics correctly decided it was time to rebuild. Doc didn’t want to be a part of it, but he did have 3 years left on his contract. Like I said in my previous post “no accomplished NBA coach wants to go through a damn rebuilding phase”. So he bailed, and I don’t think anyone can blame him for it, but he did bail.

Simmons, a huge Celtics fan, is obviously being salty, but he is right about Doc continuing to give different reasons and explanations. Doc, we know why you’re leaving, no one blames or disagrees with you, but just say it.

He is one of the greatest sports writers ever. Why do you think Grantland is so good. Who do you think is in charge of it? It’s only been around since 2011, and yet look how prevalent it is in popular culture.

Also, who wrote one of the best books ever about basketball…”The Book of Basketball:The NBA According to the Sports Guy”. It’s not even an argument. Now, run along and play.

Not sure I’d call Bill one of the greatest ever. He seems to be unable to write a column at all without using the same tired pop culture references. I used to like to read him, but it now seems like he’s been writing the same article for years. hardly a hallmark of greatness. And Grantland has good writing, yes, but just because he runs the site does not make him a great writer. It makes him able to find talent. It’s sort of like how great coaches were often not great players, but they know the game. Bill knows the game but that doesn’t make him a great writer. Great editor? Maybe.

So when a coach is under performing and he is fired is it defined as the front office bailing the coach? Or is defined as a business move? And does Boston really want Doc to speak what really happened? I don’t think they do. Just like I don’t think Doc wants to. Doc’s a class act. He’s not into the petty media stuff.
But Bill Simmons doesn’t have a clue whats going on. If he did, he wouldn’t be prying so much and acting like a fan, instead of doing his job.

“There is a reason nobody will side with you, They like my dad better than you”

(Waves hands in the air) The fight is over. Even if that blow doesn’t exactly buttress Doc’s argument

Simmons is a good writer, decent podcaster, and painfully average talking head. He might bring the average fans perspective to the table to many, but , is it not fair to say that the average fan (like the average American) is an ill informed individual known to spout off untruths?

I give Simmons more credit than that, they way in incorporates stats and history into his opinions, goes far beyond average fans actions and in this particular case, I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Agree with u abt Simmons on tv, n its sad cuz his podcast are easily some of the best you can find. Yall are crazy tho if u think Bill was off base last night. Doc knew frm jump when he signed that contract that The Celtics were gonna rebuild around year 3. Imo Doc saw a better situation and took it, I dnt blame him but that dnt absolve him from running out on his team and being in the wrong.

In no way, shape, or form did either Doc or his son remotely win this spat. Bill Simmons was spot on. Doc signed a 5 year deal with the understanding that the Celtics would need to rebuild at some point. He was ‘all in’ to do this. Two years into the deal, after Ainge makes it clear that this will be the year they do the rebuild, Doc threatens to retire, stating he doesn’t want to rebuild. Ainge is stuck and now tries and succeeds in getting something in return for Doc rather than nothing. He achieves that by getting an unprotected first round pick. Doc, like Phil Jackson, doesn’t want to be exposed as the average coach he was before got the Big Three. He simply is not a good coach without three Hall of Famers and he ran from the challenge. Simmons did the owning in this exchange. It was very fun to watch. The panel couldn’t even believe how bad Doc got owned and could offer nothing in response. It was priceless their reactions. Nice try though!

As much as I like Doc, it’s hard to be on his side. Anyone with an average fan’s basketball knowledge could foresee the rebuilding that would be taking place for the Celtics in the near future (and many would claim this should have been done even sooner). Signing an extension for that long is inexcusable if you only want to coach a contender.

He should just be real and say when he saw $35 mil up for grabs he wasn’t going to let that go.

Uninformed, I think Ainge attempted to quit on Doc and the team multiple times as the Rondo and Allen rumors swirled. If I were Doc, I wouldn’t want to coach in that type of environment because it leads to distrust amongst the players. Rivers is the coach, but he’s also management. I’d hate to have Ainge undercutting my relationship with the players.

But maybe Doc was a part of all of it. So…

That could also mean that Doc did, in fact, quit. He and Ainge might have been on the same page with all of those rumored trades. In that case, who wants to play for a coach that keeps dangling their best players every other week while also telling everyone “we’re a team?”

In either case, Doc went back and forth over the last few weeks with what he was going to do. The minute he expressed interest in another coaching job, he, in effect, quit on the team he was currently coaching. But there’s nothing wrong about that. Everyone does that. But, as Simmons pointed out in his response, Doc should own up to the fact that he wanted out. He does that and he’s just another coach.

As for the Page 2 article, Simmons always maintained that Doc was a bad coach until he wasn’t. Why? Because Doc obviously got better (players) and figured out how to play chess instead of checkers. Doc was a pretty good coach in Orlando, but he and McGrady didn’t do much did they? So I’m not sure how the change in opinion of Doc’s coaching ability has anything to do with this spat on quitting.

Owned? I wouldn’t call that exchange a victory for either party involved. Doc is catching heat for leaving even though he’s well within his right to leave shit sandwich on the plate. Bill Simmons’ career as a Stan in a sports writer’s clothing is being exposed in living color. Both lose, but Doc still gets to coach a good squad next year. As for Bill Simmons, I’m not sure if ESPN will have him back with the attention his whining has gotten. And rightfully so. Grantland is great so he should keep that ace.

He needs to leave those truths for his blog or twitter, but live TV is not the place. Unbiased opinion is the name of the game. You can have an opinion, Bill Simmons kept going with the Celtics last night. Shit had me changing the channel.

Whenever Jacobi and Jalen are shooting the shit and sharing great stories on Grantland, I always throw my hands up in anger when this guy shows up!! He just kills the whole vibe, he’s just so unlikable and when he opens his mouth and words come out it only makes the dislike worse!!!

When Doc signed the five year extension, he had to know there was a strong possibility of rebuilding. He could have stayed, toughed it out next year helping out Green and Rondo, and then reload the following season for the loaded ’14 FA and rookie classes.

It’s just refreshing for SOMEONE in the media to actually take Doc to task for what he pulled these last 2 weeks. If he was a player he would be getting crucified by all these “professional” sportswriters for “not putting team first, being selfish,”and all those other insults they throw at players like Chris Paul and Carmelo when they want to go to better situations. But Doc, a former member of the media himself, gets a free pass from reporters cause he’s likable and gives them good quotes. Doc is a coach. You coach the team given. You don’t see actual Top 5 in the NBA coaches like Thibs or Rick Carlisle looking to split when fortune gives them a team that can’t win it all every season. Bill did the right thing, good for him.

I don’t think bill is great at TV but next to those morons Wilbon and Johnson, he comes off as a genius. I like Rose a lot but man the broadcast is painful. Wilbon is the most insufferable sports personality i’ve seen foisted upon me and Magic is just plain horrible at analysis, and I’m a diehard Laker fan.

I don’t think anyone “won” or got “ether’d”. They both have had valid points in this.

For all those saying that Doc shouldn’t face criticism for leaving a “rebuilding” team for the sexier Lob City, please remember that Doc signed an extension for the very purpose of developing a rebuild team around this time. He knowingly sign a huge contract would take him beyond the PP/KG era. He changed his mind, and some people have a problem with his “when the going gets tough…” decision. Doc is his own man and has the right to do what he feel is right for him if he feels the need but let’s not the fans of the team don’t have the right to be upset at him. I’m not one of those fans but I understand those (Bill) who are.

Bill Simmons is a hack!! People need to learn that there is no “fan’s view”, there is only the truth. The truth of the matter is that this is America and grown man can take a job with whoever he pleases, and wherever he pleases when the opportunity arises. What is this slave driven mindset that a man has to be loyal to a entity that’s not loyal to him. I mean how can anyone view this as disloyal, this is a sound business deal all the way around. Nobody sticks with a falling stock, or a company on the verge of bankruptcy so why would anyone deal with a team in a rebuilding process if a better opportunity exists. Any grown man should realize these truths and move on. You don’t begrudge a man for progressing his career, that shit is for 10 year olds who don’t know the realities of life. The realities are his ass would have had two bad seasons during the process and his losing, coupled with his high salary would have made him expendable. This fan shit is out of control cause “fans” think these people are their personal property. It almost as if its ok for the slave owner to fuck over you, but to buck the system and plan for the future is seen as some sort of cowardice act. Bailed on the Celtics thats the most childish, lamest, shit I ever heard. The Celtics bailed on the Celtics, any GM with a brain can see that those boys arent anywhere near puling off a championship. The whole top half of the roster is on its lasts leg and its simply time to start over. Bottomline is “fans” like Bill Simmons need to grow the fuck up and stop living vicariously through men 10-15 years younger then them and making them pieces in their fantasyland when its comes to sports.

I like (or liked) Simmons and he revolutionized sports media (I won’t say journalism because it blurs the line) and column writing in the internet age. You’d have no SB Nation or Deadspin or any other high-ranking sports blog without what he did for ESPN’s Page 2 and the Boston Herald back in the day.

But the man can’t write a column without its being over 3,000 words.

And I think Jeb Lund (formerly Mobute Sese Soku for Gawker and GQ) hit the nail on the head when it comes to calling out Simmons’ and Grantland’s weaknesses (although, I will say that I like Grantland and the site’s come a long way since its beginnings in summer 2011):

I would say that article does not accurately reflect Grantland at this juncture. The site’s strength is its writers, most of whom were not around at launch. Simmons does not even contribute that frequently, and Klosterman almost never does.

even though it’s abundantly clear that the Celtics are unloading their assets to tank next season for a run at Andrew Wiggins rebuilding.

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good point… Bill Simmons is a strong writer. but he, like most in sports journalism is as much an op-ed guy as any. He writes with personality and perspective–his own. That’s fine, but once you mix that with “here’s the truth/facts about something/someone I’m not connected to” you get bias.

Fact is Bill doesnt know Doc. Doesn’t know why Doc left and hasn’t talked to the Celts or Rivers to get any level of clarity about this situation. If Chris Broussard had came and said this TSS, Twitter and the rest would maul him a new one with no vaseline.

Simmons said his piece based on his opinion, and Doc and Doc’s family–all of whom re exponentially more informed and qualified to speak on Doc’s intentions and reasons for his decisions have responded.

Not sure how or why Rivers has to take a backseat to Simmons’ from-a-distance-assertions on why Rivers did what he did.

This is gold. Is there an app available that will send alerts to my android phone when Bill Simmons says something stupid? Because I want that app. But I better turn the volume down so I can get some work done.

i find it hard to listen to bill simmons voice overall, and everytime i see him i feel the sudden urge to give him a wedgie.
he seems like the guy that would chime in while all of the bball players were arguing sports shit, he would walk by with his book bag and have the courage to give his opinion, then would be given a wedgie and beaned with the basketball.

Dick Schapp and Ralph Wiley were great sports writers. Bill Simmons is not. He is a gifted writer, and an awful television personality. I don’t particularly enjoy his writing work but I can easily discern that it’s far from bullshit. His television work is right there for everyone to see how bad it is.